Customer Service

Your Water Pipes - Cold Weather Best Practices

As winter approaches, Howard County’s Bureau of Utilities would like to offer residents some suggestions on how to avoid the damage that can be caused when water pipes freeze and burst. 

The Howard County Bureau of Utilities defines a critical water user as a business or facility that uses water as a critical function of their overall process. This includes, but is not limited to: hospitals, health care facilities, nursing homes, assisted living centers, day care centers, and schools.

For more information, click the button below.

Did you know that nearly 50 percent of all sewage overflows nationwide are caused by homeowners who improperly dispose of everyday Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG)? These overflows are not just public health issues, but can result in serious damage to our environment, especially pollution of our streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.

As the lead agency that responds to sewage overflows, the Bureau of Utilities has taken on the challenge of educating residents on how they can and should dispose of these fats, oils and greases found in foods and food ingredients we use in our homes everyday: meat, cooking oil, butter, shortening, margarine, baked goods, sauces and dairy products.

For more information, click the button below.

If you notice that your water usage is unusually high, there could be many potential causes. Luckily, some of these causes can be easily diagnosed and corrected. For information on potential causes of high water consumption, click the button below.

Over the past few years, the Bureau of Utilities has received a number of complaints from homeowners about low water pressure and a decrease in the availability of hot water in their homes.

Upon inspection, these problems were found to be due to a defective part of the homeowner's water heater. The extension of the cold water supply pipe (the "Dip Tube") in the water heater was found to be disintegrating, causing plastic particles to clog up the aerators (screens) in the faucets of the home. Normally, the replacement of the water heater and the cleaning of all the aerators in the house are necessary to resolve this issue.

Below is a diagram of a water tank that shows where the dip tube is located in most units. 

Sometimes, a home's water pressure can begin to abnormally increase or decrease. If water flows properly from some taps but not others, check the aerators (screens) on the affected taps. Aerators may be plugged with debris.* Similarly, the screen on your laundry machine or dishwasher may be blocked.

(*For additional info, see the Hot Water Heater "Dip Tube" Issue tab.)

If water pressure is low all the time, on all taps, the Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) likely needs adjusting. The PRV is typically a fist-sized, bell-shaped valve with a bolt sticking out of the bell end. It’s typically near the household shut-off valve and water meter, and is part of the household plumbing.* The county building code requires PRVs on homes to protect household plumbing from high pressures that may occur in the municipal system.

(*Note that the PRV is not owned by Howard County, and therefore is the responsibility of the homeowner.)

Alternatively, if water seems to "spurt" on all taps, the PRVs screen may need to be cleaned. Spurting is when there is good pressure for a few seconds, and then the pressure lowers and flow slows down. The screen protects the PRV and household plumbing from debris, and sometimes you'll have to clean the screen and adjust the PRV.

Below, you can find some instructions on cleaning and adjusting your PRV, details on how a PRV functions, and a diagram of a PRV's parts. If you do not feel confident in doing this work, we recommend you contact a local plumber for assistance.

Image

Cleaning the Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) Strainer Screen (to address Spurting)*

*Not all brands contain a cleanable straining device.

1. Turn water to the PRV off by turning off the main waterline leading to the PRV - this valve is usually located where the waterline enters the home. Leaving the water on during cleaning may cause flooding. Water still in the household pipes will drain back, so have a bucket ready.
2. Ensure no one is using water during this procedure.
3. Unscrew the Strainer Plug, which is a large cap screw on the upstream side.
4. Remove and clean the stainless steel Strainer Screen.
5. Reinstall Strainer Screen and Strainer Plug.
6. Carefully turn water back on, and examine the system for leaks.

Adjusting the Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV)

1. Unscrew the Lock Nut.
2. Adjust pressure. For more pressure, turn the adjusting screw down (clockwise); for less pressure, turn the adjusting screw up (counter-clockwise).
3. Retighten the Lock Nut so the adjusting screen cannot turn on its own.

How the Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) Works

If you are interested in how PRVs work, here are more details – assuming the system starts with high pressure downstream in the home:

1. High downstream pressure pushes the rubber Diaphragm up, pulling up the Yoke and Disc (which are connected).
2. The Disc moves closer to the Seat, pinching off the water from the high pressure upstream supply from your water source. The pinching creates friction, which reduces the downstream pressure.
3. The reduced downstream pressure allows the Diaphragm, Yoke and Disc to move down. This reduces the friction lost through the seat, increasing the downstream pressure.
4. A balance is soon struck between processes 1–3 and 4–5, thus providing the appropriate pressure.
5. Adjusting Screw down increases the downward force on the Diaphragm, Yoke and Disc. This makes it harder to squeeze off the water flow, thus lessening the friction. The lesser friction increases the downstream pressure. Adjusting Screw up decreases the downward force on the Diaphragm, Yoke and Disc. This makes it easier to squeeze off the flow, thus increasing friction and decreasing the downstream pressure.

How does the County assure water meter readings and water bills are accurate?

• Most water meters in Howard County are read electronically via radio interface, thereby minimizing human error.
• Water meter data is transferred electronically to the County's billing system, again minimizing human error.
• These readings are automatically compared to the previous readings and/or the reading from the same time period in the prior year. If a substantial difference is found, the bill is reviewed individually by a staff member.
• If the staff member determines that the difference is significant and there is no mitigating reason for the discrepancy, a field investigation will ensue to identify and resolve the problem.
• While it is extremely rare that the actual water meters over-register, the most common cause is a malfunctioning transmitter.

We do our best to ensure all billed water meter readings are correct. If you feel your water bill is inaccurate, give us a call at (410) 313-2058, Monday through Friday, during the hours of 8am and 5pm.

Located along your property line, there is a water meter or a ball valve box. This provides access to a ball valve that can be used to shut off the water serving your house if needed - in case of a water leak in your home, for example. These plastic Ball Valve Box Lids sometimes get damaged by lawnmowers and by other means, preventing us or a plumber from turning off your water in case of an emergency.

If you need your Ball Valve Box Lid repaired or have a damaged Water Meter Vault Lid, or can't determine where the Water Meter Vault or Ball Valve Box is located for your property, please call (410) 313-4900 to schedule the repair at no charge. We will be happy to send a person to locate where your water comes in at your property.

The Little Patuxent Water Reclamation Plant is undergoing a $92-million Enhanced Nutrient Removal Expansion and Improvements project (Addition No. 7).

Excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus lead to degraded water quality, which negatively impacts plant and animal life in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. These excess nutrients can flow into the Bay from wastewater treatment plant discharges, stormwater runoff, and rainfall.

To learn more about Howard County's work in water reclamation and our contributions to local water quality, click the button below.

How Lead Gets into Drinking Water

Lead can enter drinking water when service pipes that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. For more information on lead in drinking water, click the button below.

Howard County Public Water Supply Sources

If you live in the North Laurel area, east of Interstate 95 and south of Patuxent Range Road, your water comes from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) in Laurel. If you live anywhere else in Howard County and are connected to public water, your water comes from Baltimore City. Howard County purchases water from Baltimore City and WSSC.

Additional Maps

Planned Service Area (Water)

Planned Service Area (Sewer)

Wastewater Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance

The Wastewater Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance (CMOM) Program is intended to cover all aspects of sanitary sewer collection and conveyance, from wastewater generation to treatment.

The primary purpose of the CMOM Program is to collect information and manage resources to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, sanitary sewer overflows by collating, tracking, and improving the efficiency of the sewage system.

For more information, click the button below.

The Bureau of Utilities conducts regular testing of various water conditions at over 150 locations throughout the system to ensure the highest quality water available for the citizens of Howard County.

Results are available in your 2025 Water Quality Report. To access reports from previous years, click the button below.

Bureau of Utilities - Water Resources Element

The Water Resources Element (WRE), an amendment to General Plan 2000, was adopted in April 2010. The WRE is intended to ensure the County has adequate land and water capacity for the treatment of wastewater and stormwater in order to support future growth.

The WRE contains policies and actions to help the County manage water resources more sustainably to ensure that, as the County continues to grow, water resources will be conserved, protected, and restored to health.

The WRE is included in PlanHoward 2030 by reference and may be updated in the future to reflect evolving water and sewer demand and pollution reduction requirements.